Just a thought…
I keep seeing “Newby” posts asking for ideas/help getting started…
Looked at the reverse way to usual… What’s the two (maybe three) most important things you’d advise a beginner NOT TO DO.
Mine are:
Don’t listen to the experts… look at what modellers have actually done and at really works.
Don’t expect to get it right first time but get stuck in with something small size.
Don’t be afraid to get it wrong and start over (small size helps here).
Start Slow.
Find a mentor/not an expert (as Dave has already pointed out)
Enjoy
Make sure your spouse is in the loop.
Don’t try to make Rome in a day or seven.
Realize and set your limits, don’t be discouraged by them, learn to expand them and realize it will take time. You will surprise yourself!
If at first you don’t succeed… Don’t worry you’ll get it on the third or fourth try! Maybe…. Sometimes….
Fergie
Don’t start into the hobby thinking your first layout is going to look anything like the full-house monsters featured in Model Railroader or other magazines, or that you’re going to master scenery and weathering techniques equal to those of George Sellios. Start small, perhaps with a shelf or small modular layout and gain some scenery, wiring, operating, etc. experience, and make all of your mistakes on this one, before you start your “real” layout.
From one newbie. This forum, and the people on it, are a tremendous help in more ways than can be expressed here. From my point of view I initially thought the MR articles where the way to do it. They are but an idea and inspiration of what someone else has done. So too is what everyone is sharing in thoughts, advice and pictures of their work here.
“Long live the forum”.
Pretty good advice!
I have spent over 30 years playing on other poeples layouts and building stuff for them, especally electronics, but only recently initiated myself into newbie layout constructor status. Here is my list of dont’s:
John
What I think is most important is jdtoronto’s last point.
Don’t forget that this is a hobby and should be fun
All to often through discouragement and desire for instant success, people stop enjoying the hobby in trying to do it “right”.
Don’t wait - get started now, even if all you can do is a small loop, a diesel switcher and a couple of cars.
Enjoy
Paul
Why wouldn’t you want to listen to an “expert”?
That’s kinda like somebody asking what’s 10 divided by 4 and advising them not to listen to anybody that says its 2.5, just listen to people who say its somewhere between 2 and 3.
Dave H.
One of the best pieces of advice about scenery was something I saw in one of the scenery books.
Don’t try to imitate someone else’s scenery technique. Rather than creating believable scenery, you’re just going to wind up with your impression of someone else’s impression of reality.
Instead, study the real thing that you’re trying to emulate. Use books and magazine articles if you can’t get to the actual place, but make sure the pictures are of a real scene, not a modeler’s diorama.
If you use the various techniques that have been written about, but use the real thing for a guide, your work will wind up looking better.
And don’t forget, you’ll get better with time and practice. All of the scenery masters and creators of Great Model Railroads were beginners at some time.
-Ed
An expert tells you to go here, then here, then here.
A mentor shows you where you need to be and helps you find your own way there.